Pamour slated for production in 2005.

Even as the Porcupine Joint Venture (PJV) prepares to open its Pamour site, the search is already on to seek out more new mining opportunities.

PJV is a joint development project by Placer Dome Ltd. and Kinross Gold Corp to develop the Pamour pit east of Timmins--a project pegged at a cost of nearly $82 million.

"As part of that program, the first thing on our schedule is to put in a 12-kilometre road from the Dome site to the Pamour pit so we have a dedicated haul road from the pit to the mill site," says Pamour mine general manager Gary Halverson. "That is phase one that is already underway. We are building the road."

An overpass over a secondary road has already been completed and a second overpass is planned for over a section of Highway 101 to be moved to make room for the pit. A portion of Three Nations Lake is also impacted by the presence of the Pamour pit and will be replaced, he says.

"There have been a number of public discussions that have taken place over the last year and a half as well as a number of government approvals that are required," says Halverson. "It's a progressive permitting program dealing with a number of (government) agencies like the (provincial) Ministries of the Environment, Natural Resources, Northern Development and Mines and the (federal) Department of Fisheries and Oceans. We've been in discussion with the public and all those agencies as part of our program to make sure we have all our permits in place as we do all these jobs.

"We have all the permits we need now to put in our haul road which is the first phase of the project," he says. "We're in discussions with the Ministry of Transportation for the final alignment of Highway 101 and we're also in discussions for the Three Nations Lake replacement. I'd like to say it's all said and done, but because it's such a long process, there are a number of agencies that come along as we develop the pit."

He estimates the haul road should be built before the end of this year and stripping operations will begin. Ore should start coming to the mill by the end of 2005.

The mine has a forecast 10-year lifespan with a projected community economic impact including operating costs and wages estimated to be about $800 million over those 10 years. Pamour is believed to have about 1.8 million ounces of gold.

The PJV was formed in 2002 as a means of combining the assets of Placer Dome and Kinross Gold Corp. which includes the Dome underground and open pit mine and mill, the Hoyle Pond mine and the Bell Creek mill.

Halversen says the 95-year-old Dome mine was scheduled to shut down by May 28. Because Placer Dome has been aware of the impending shutdown, it's allowed the company to minimize impacts on jobs through attrition and helping people find work elsewhere. Some of them will go to work in the Pamour operation and the company's Hoyle Pond mine.

"It's a shame to see the mine shutting down even though it has been running for 95 years. It's been a good run," he says. "On the bright side, the industry has made a good turnaround and there is a lot of activity going on which is great for people finding new jobs."

PJV is planning on spending $9.5 million on exploration this year over 37,000 hectares of land.

"Historically, we've mined in the camp over 60 million ounces and I believe the potential to find a few million more represents quite a realistic opportunity. We've got a few targets in the area and we're utilizing our connections with (geophysical initiative) Discover Abitibi to enhance that exploration potential," says Halversen.

By ANDREW WAREING

Northern Ontario Business